As the dark dwarf scrambles off, Korg rushed forward drawing a roll of bandages from his belt. He flipped Roark over and gasped at the sight of the gruesome wound. As he tightly wrapped the bandages around Roark’s back to stop the flow of blood Roark gasped in pain. “Easy brother, you’re going to live.” Assured Korg. With that he heard footsteps from the direction of Torm. Already? The dark dwarves could not have reached the city yet. Thought Korg. He drops Roark, spinning as he does, his battleaxe already in hand. “AAARRRRGGGGG!” He screamed fully prepared to sacrifice himself to kill as many dark dwarves as possible!
However, the footsteps belonged to five fellow Tallos members. Korg watched as they scrambled into view closely followed by their commanding officer and exhaled in relief. “Dark dwarves attacked…. we fended them off but it cost us dearly” Korg explained gesturing to the many corpses littering the ground, “One escaped, he’s fetching reinforcements!” Just as Korg finished speaking fifty some dark dwarves scrambled into view from the side tunnel the other dark dwarf had gone into. “Retreat!” yelled the officer and Korg picked up Roark and started to climb the steep slope to the gates of Torm. Hand axes whistled through the air to bury themselves into two Tallos’ backs. They went down hard and tumbled down the slope knocking a couple dark dwarves down onto their faces. Finally, the great stone gates of Torm came into view revealing rank upon rank of battle hardened dwarven warriors. Korg gave a cheer. There were at least a hundred dwarves standing in formation, weapons held ready in clenched hands. They parted making a path straight into Torm. Korg handed Roark off to one of the other Tallos and joined the dwarves in their ranks.
Just 2 tunnels away the black robed figure stalked ever closer, surrounded by a swarm of terrified dark dwarves. Just how important is this city to the master? Should I show myself? The figure was unable to decide whether to participate in the final battle for Torm or to let the dark dwarves die by themselves.
Choose reader. Should the figure enter the battle in favor of the dark dwarves or stay out of it letting the dark dwarves fight by themselves?
Friday, May 29, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Ambushed
With a voice like grating rock the black clad figure spoke, “You will attack by the tunnels!” With that he stalked towards Jack lifting an arm revealing blood red scales and gruesome, serrated claws.
In the tunnels behind Torm, Korg, a young Tallos member was resting with the rest of his group. One of his buddies complains, “We’ve already scouted three side tunn…” he breaks off abruptly as a hand axe whistles into his forehead.
Shouts and screams filled the air as ten dark dwarves sprinted out of a side passage straight at the group. “Ambush!!” Screamed Korg as one more Tallos fell dead from a pair of deadly hand axes. He leapt up drawing his battleaxe. Two dark dwarfs clad in rags broke off from the main group and leapt at him mouths twisted into animal like snarls. Korg felt all his muscles tense with a familiar hate as he screamed and jumped foreword to confront them. One swung a light hand axe at him while the other circled behind him in an attempt to flank him. He ducked the hand axe and brought the flat of his battleaxe to smash into the first dwarves face. Stunned the dark dwarf fell flat on his back and Korg finishes him off with a mighty overhand blow. He turned to face the second dwarf who was already backing away at the realization of Korg’s combat readiness. He relentlessly pursued and smashed his axe through the dark dwarves pitiful defenses. The dark dwarf fell to the side, dead.
He looked around and saw nothing but red through the gory haze of combat. It took him a moment to focus but the instant he did he gasped, seeing Alberhad lying dead with gaping wounds and three dark dwarves standing around him leering. The body of a dark dwarf he had slain lay next to him. Torag, Alberhad’s brother screamed with anguish and grabbed Alberhad’s axe, leaping at the three dark dwarves that killed him. An instant later all three were dead and Torag was struck down from behind. Korg realizes that there are only four dark dwarves left and four of them.
“Victory will be ours,” he growled. As he spoke another member of the Tallos leapt foreword and spun to deliver a killing blow to a dark dwarf. He gasped when he faced the small encampment of good dwarves and managed to yell, “Behind you!” Before getting stabbed by a spear from behind. Quickly Korg spun around just in time to see another Tallos get axed by a pair of dark dwarves that had snuck up behind them. The injured dwarf managed to land a killing blow to one of the sneaking dark dwarfs before getting killed by its partner. Korg rushed at the main body of dark dwarves yelling curses as he went. He heard the scream of the one remaining dark dwarf behind them as he got chopped in half by a vengeful dwarf swinging a broad axe. Then, he was by the last of dark dwarves and tackled one head on. He quickly leapt on to the dwarf and dispatched him with a blow to the head. Looking around for the last dwarf he saw it fleeing, weapons dropped in haste.
Swearing, he is about to pursue when he hears a low groan from behind. Korg spins around and spies Roark wounded, losing blood at an astounding rate. Torn between indecision he can’t decide whether to pursue the fleeing dark dwarf who may be getting reinforcements or save his life long buddy Roark who would certainly die without his immediate help.
Choose Reader!!!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
The Beginning
The Siege of Torm
Above the ground it was summer thought Jobb but you wouldn’t know it from looking at the cold dark halls of the clan Strong Axe. To the dwarves this was home but to Jobb, a human, it felt unnatural. He heard a slight coughing behind him, reminding him of the presence of Banjere, a dwarven fighter of some renown and his bodyguard during his stay in Torm, the capitol of Strong Axe’s cities. Jack, his apprentice had gone out with a party of dwarven scouts to find new mining areas. He was due back any day now. A sound broke into his thoughts, hurried footsteps outside the door. Banjere exited Jobb’s quarters and several dwarven words were exchanged. Then, there was a shout of exclamation and the door was thrown wide open. Banjere stood there looking murderous and shouted, “Akiata.” Jobb looking to the page standing next to Banjere and heard the page translate, “Dark Dwarves.” Banjere strode towards the entrance hall and the page gestured for Jobb to follow.
Upon entering the spacious hall his gaze was drawn to a single member of the Tallos, an elite group of dwarven scouts who worked in squads of eight. Jack had gone with looking for mines with them some days earlier. The Tallos member’s clothes were torn and bloody and he looked to be asleep. In his hands were the shattered remains of a battle-axe. Banjere strode over to him and said, “Farnet, wake up.” Farnet’s eyes leapt open in fear then relaxed at the sight of a fellow dwarf. He drew a shaky breath and began to cough. At that moment Jobb could almost sense death in the room with all of them, stalking out its next victim. Farnet spoke haltingly through bloodstained teeth, “Akiata,” he spat, “We… stumbled upon hundreds…I am…. the only survivor….” The effort obviously cost him dearly as he collapsed into chair. Seeing Jobbs panicked face he managed one last sentence, “The human was taken alive.” With that the dwarves face finally relaxed and he fell into the deepest slumber, never to wake again.
Down in the deepest, blackest tunnel a war council was in progress. Hundreds of Dark Dwarves were gathered and debating loudly. One, a Damien shouted fiercely, “Our informant has told us of a tunnel that leads to the back of Torm. We can take it by surprise and slay every last one of our despicable kinsmen!” The crowd’s gaze was drawn to the huddled chained figure of Jack who weakly nodded his assent. Another dark dwarf stood up and yelled, “No, if we ever wish to succeed we must break down the front gate and directly battle them!” Damien turned to a figure clad in an all black robe with an impenetrable hood. A chill of fear passed through him and he weakly shook it off. “Well,” he spoke, “The gates or tunnels?”
Choose Reader! Should the dark dwarves enter attack from the tunnels with the element of suprise, or march to the gates and do battle honorably? Comment now!
Above the ground it was summer thought Jobb but you wouldn’t know it from looking at the cold dark halls of the clan Strong Axe. To the dwarves this was home but to Jobb, a human, it felt unnatural. He heard a slight coughing behind him, reminding him of the presence of Banjere, a dwarven fighter of some renown and his bodyguard during his stay in Torm, the capitol of Strong Axe’s cities. Jack, his apprentice had gone out with a party of dwarven scouts to find new mining areas. He was due back any day now. A sound broke into his thoughts, hurried footsteps outside the door. Banjere exited Jobb’s quarters and several dwarven words were exchanged. Then, there was a shout of exclamation and the door was thrown wide open. Banjere stood there looking murderous and shouted, “Akiata.” Jobb looking to the page standing next to Banjere and heard the page translate, “Dark Dwarves.” Banjere strode towards the entrance hall and the page gestured for Jobb to follow.
Upon entering the spacious hall his gaze was drawn to a single member of the Tallos, an elite group of dwarven scouts who worked in squads of eight. Jack had gone with looking for mines with them some days earlier. The Tallos member’s clothes were torn and bloody and he looked to be asleep. In his hands were the shattered remains of a battle-axe. Banjere strode over to him and said, “Farnet, wake up.” Farnet’s eyes leapt open in fear then relaxed at the sight of a fellow dwarf. He drew a shaky breath and began to cough. At that moment Jobb could almost sense death in the room with all of them, stalking out its next victim. Farnet spoke haltingly through bloodstained teeth, “Akiata,” he spat, “We… stumbled upon hundreds…I am…. the only survivor….” The effort obviously cost him dearly as he collapsed into chair. Seeing Jobbs panicked face he managed one last sentence, “The human was taken alive.” With that the dwarves face finally relaxed and he fell into the deepest slumber, never to wake again.
Down in the deepest, blackest tunnel a war council was in progress. Hundreds of Dark Dwarves were gathered and debating loudly. One, a Damien shouted fiercely, “Our informant has told us of a tunnel that leads to the back of Torm. We can take it by surprise and slay every last one of our despicable kinsmen!” The crowd’s gaze was drawn to the huddled chained figure of Jack who weakly nodded his assent. Another dark dwarf stood up and yelled, “No, if we ever wish to succeed we must break down the front gate and directly battle them!” Damien turned to a figure clad in an all black robe with an impenetrable hood. A chill of fear passed through him and he weakly shook it off. “Well,” he spoke, “The gates or tunnels?”
Choose Reader! Should the dark dwarves enter attack from the tunnels with the element of suprise, or march to the gates and do battle honorably? Comment now!
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